Ten seasons after putting down stakes in the Okanagan, the West Kelowna Warriors are the RBC Cup champs.
Rylan Ferster's club celebrated Canadian junior A hockey's ultimate prize Sunday in Lloydminster with a 4-0 win over the host Bobcats in the tournament finale.
In a virtuoso performance, goaltender Matthew Greenfield made 48 saves for the shutout as the Warriors completed an epic 2 1/2 month playoff journey with the organization's first ever RBC Cup championship.
Jonathan Desbiens, Reed Gunville, Liam Blackburn and Rylan Yaremko, with an empty netter, scored for Warriors who won five of six games at the five-team national tournament.
The Warriors, who upset the defending champion BCHL Penticton Vees in the second round of the playoffs along the way, played 35 post season games en route to winning the BCHL, Western Canada Cup and RBC Cup crowns.
“This is a special group of kids we had right from the start,” said Warriors head coach, Rylan Ferster. “We had to work for everything we got here. It’s been a great ride for us and I’m really happy for the team.”